Slide for keyboard platform

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a slide for use to install a keyboard platform under a working surface. The slide consists of an elongated piece having an upper portion provided with openings to receive screws for fixing it under the working surface, and a C-shaped bottom portion sized to receive and support one side of the platform. The lower portion has a slot extending over most of its length and through which a screw may be inserted in order to retain one side of the platform with the C-shaped lower portion while allowing this platform to be moved along the slide and stopped at opposite ends thereof. Advantageously, the elongated piece also has a lateral surface with holes made therein in order to allow its fixation with screws onto a vertical panel or any other support piece extending vertically under the working surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a slide for keyboard platform, which isdevised to allow quick and easy installation of a computer keyboardplatform under a working surface or between vertical panels.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

It is of common practice in the field of furniture especially adaptedfor computers, to use a desk, or a table or any other working surfaceprovided with a support for a computer keyboard, which is mounted onto aplatform that can be pulled forward from under the desk or table, andsubsequently moved back under same when such is necessary, especiallywhen there is a need for space. For this purpose, there already existnumerous types of computer keyboard platforms. However, the existingsupports for such platforms call for the installation of pieces of woodand/or complex equipment in order to position the platform under theworking surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a slide for a keyboardplatform, which slide is installable in a very easy manner under aworking surface such as a desk or a table in order to support theplatform on which is positioned the keyboard in such a manner as toallow the platform to be moved forward and rearward under said workingsurface.

The slide for a keyboard platform according to the invention basicallyconsists of an elongated piece having an upper portion provided withopenings to receive screws for fixing the slide under the workingsurface, a C-shaped bottom portion sized to receive and support one sideof the platform, and two opposite ends. The lower portion of theelongated piece comprises a slot extending over most of the length ofthe bottom portion and through which a screw may be inserted in order toretain one side of the platform within the C-shaped bottom portion whileallowing the platform to be moved along the slide and stopped at theopposite ends thereof.

Preferably, the opposite ends of the slide according to the invention,each have a rounded surface in order to reduce the risk of scratchinginjuries in use.

Preferably also, the slide according to the invention, may comprise alateral side with holes therein in order to allow fixation of it withscrews onto a vertical panel or any other support piece extendingvertically under the working surface.

The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon readingthe following non-restrictive description of a preferred embodimentthereof, made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a computer keyboard platform heldbetween two slides according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the platform in a forwardposition;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the left-hand side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1,illustrating the two slides, the platform as well as the screws andother attachment means in separate positions;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are a perspective view, rear elevational view and frontelevational view respectively, of the slide according to the preferredembodiment of the invention as shown in the previous drawings;

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are rear elevated view, top plan view and sideelevational view respectively, of the slide shown in FIGS. 5 and 6; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are cross-sectional views showing how the slideaccording to the invention can be installed under a working surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The support 1 for a computer keyboard as shown in the accompanyingdrawings, comprises, as is of common practice, a platform 3 which isdevised to be mounted in a sliding manner under the bottom of a workingsurface in order to be easily accessible to the user and be subsequentlymoved back under the working surface to get more space if need be.

In accordance with the present invention, this support 1 makes use oftwo slides 5 of absolutely identical structure for installing thekeyboard platform 3 under the working surface. As is clearly shown inthe drawings, the slides 5 are of perfectly symmetrical structure, whichallows them to be used for installation purposes either on the left-handside or on the right-hand side of the platform, which is not the casewith the conventional slides presently on the market. The slide 5according to the invention is actually reversible, which reduces thenumber of elements to be kept in storage for installing purposes.

Each slide 5 according to the invention comprises opposite ends havingrounded surfaces 7, 9 in order to reduce the risk of scratching injuriesthat could be caused in use, especially when the slides located under adesk comprise sharp edges as is the case with conventional slides orwood supports.

Each slide 5 also comprises a lower portion 11 with a C-shape, whichacts as a support for the platform and permits to compensate for anyexcessive pressure during manipulation. Just below the upper part of theC-shaped bottom portion 11, there is a slot 13 that extends over most ofthe length of the bottom portion. This slot 13 is intended to receiveplastic reinforcing support 15 and/or screws 17 that are connectabledirectly to the platform in order to guide the same while stopping itssliding motion at the opposite ends of the slide. It is worth notingthat the plastic reinforcing support 15 could be replaced by screws ormetal disks.

Using such reinforcing support 15 and/or screws 17 that extendexternally outside from the slide, has the advantage of holding theadjacent edge of the platform within the C-shaped bottom portion of theslide and thus preventing it from falling down as it may happen withconventional supports wherein a metal reinforcing bar is the only meansused to prevent this problem.

The upper portion of each slide 5 also comprises openings 19 in whichcan be inserted screws 21 in order to fix it under the working surfaceor a piece of wood fixed under the same, as is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and11. The openings 19 are preferably located in free spaces in order toallow a person with a conventional screwdriver to have easy access tothem and install the screws.

Preferably, each slide 5 also comprises a plurality of holes 21 made inits lateral side to allow installation of the slide onto a verticalpanel or another support piece extending vertically under the workingsurface, such as wood blocks that are not located vertically underneath,but laterally, as is shown in FIG. 10.

The slide 5 according to the invention, is preferably made of a plasticmaterial molded into two parts, without use of expensive mechanicalmeans, such permits to increase the production rate.

1. A slide for use to install a keyboard platform under a workingsurface, said slide consisting of an elongated piece having an upperportion provided with openings to receive screws for fixing said slideunder the working surface, a C-shaped bottom portion sized to receiveand support one side of the platform, and two opposite ends, said lowerportion comprises a slot extending over most of the length of saidbottom portion and through which a screw may be inserted in order toretain one side of the platform within the C-shaped bottom portion whileallowing said platform to be moved along the slide and stopped at theopposite ends thereof.
 2. The slide according to claim 1, wherein eachof said opposite ends has a rounded surface in order to reduce the riskof scratching injuries in use.
 3. The slide according to claim 1,further comprising a lateral side with holes therein in order to allowfixation of said slide with screws onto a vertical panel or anothersupport piece extending vertically under the working surface.
 4. Theslide according to claim 2, further comprising a lateral side with holestherein in order to allow fixation of said slide with screws onto avertical panel or another support piece extending vertically under theworking surface.
 5. The slide according to claim 1, wherein said slideis made of molded plastic material.
 6. The slide according to claim 2,wherein said slide is made of molded plastic material.
 7. The slideaccording to claim 3, wherein said slide is made of molded plasticmaterial.
 8. The slide according to claim 4, wherein said slide is madeof molded plastic material.